Effects of aflatoxin B1 on serum and pituitary prolactin levels in male rats

Aflatoxin B1a secondary fungal metabolite and a major contaminant of human and animal foodstuffs, is one of the most potent carcinogen known. A decrease in milk production was recently observed in dairy cows when they consumed aflatoxin B[1] contaminated feed. In this study, the effect of aflatoxin, B[1] on serum and anterior pituitary prolactin levels was examined in male rats. Aflatoxin B[1] in doses of 0.7 and 1.4 mg/kg body weight decreased serum prolactin levels after 30,60 and 120 min of injection with no significant changes in pituitary prolactin levels. In contrast, 2.8 mg/kg body weight of aflatoxin B[1] increased pituitary prolactin levels and produced no significant changes in serum prolactin levels. Similarly, chronic administration of aflatoxin B[1] resulted in an increase in pituitary prolactin levels and no significant changes in serum prolactin levels. It is suggested that affatoxin B[1] decreases milk production by modulating, at least in part, prolactin release from the anterior pituitary gland